Firefighter who fought for gender parity running for Mayor of Safety Harbor

tanja-19
Tanja Vidovic successfully sued the department for gender discrimination.

Tampa firefighter Tanja Vidovic is running for Safety Harbor Mayor next year, she announced Friday.

Vidovic is a sustainability activist and local radio host covering environmental topics. She works in Tampa, but resides in Safety Harbor.

Vidovic is the Tampa fire fighter who was at the center of controversy in the department over claims she had been sexually harassed and discriminated against. Vidovic filed a lawsuit against the city in late 2016 and was fired the next day.

Her two-year legal battle with the city that led to a $245,000 payout after she won a jury trial and the reinstatement of her position uncovered a culture of gender bias and discrimination within the fire department that Vidovic continues to rally against.

Now, Vidovic co-hosts the Sustainable Living show that broadcasts live on WMNF Community Radio Mondays from 10-11 a.m. The show tackles environmental topics and offers advice to listeners on how to live a more sustainable life by reducing waste and their carbon footprint. In addition to co-hosting the show, Vidovic is also an active volunteer with the radio station, recently having donated her own artwork for the station to use as gifts for people who donated to the listener-funded station.

“I have the creative ideas and solutions we’ve been lacking. I also have the discipline and drive to effectively govern Safety Harbor as I promise my core values will not be compromised,” Vidovic, said.

In addition to her volunteer hosting gig and job as a Tampa fire fighter, Vidovic also created a gardening group 10 years ago that has grown to more than 10,000 members and includes seven community orchards open to the public for harvesting.

Vidovic’s platform includes women’s equality, strong local unions, sustainability and environmental protection, safe streets, anti-bullying efforts, the arts, clean air and water, and governmental transparency at all levels.

Vidovic will run against incumbent Mayor Joe Ayoub.

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as senior reporter for WMNF News. Janelle has a lust for politics and policy. When she’s not bringing you the day’s news, you might find Janelle enjoying nature with her husband, children and two dogs. You can reach Janelle at [email protected].


93 comments

  • Steven

    October 11, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    She was also fired from the city of Safety Harbor for harassing other employees.

    She also harasses and threatens children online – she recently posted the name, address, phone number and list of relatives of a minor child on her social media accounts…prompting law enforcement to work with Facebook to remove the offending posts.

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 8:59 pm

      Steven is a supporter of the current Mayor and harasses anyone who opposes him. Links to all events are posted on my website. Please go to http://www.tanjaforsafetyharbor.com to see for yourself

      • Jane Franklin

        October 11, 2019 at 9:27 pm

        I guess the whole commission meeting where community member after community member stood up and reported that you bullied them wasn’t real either? Steven posts facts that shine the light on the truth. Sometimes hard to hear but the truth.

        • Tanja Vidovic

          October 11, 2019 at 9:48 pm

          Please see my previous comments.

          This is the exact tactic of bullying that the Mayor’s supporters used in the past against Janet Hooper and Andy Steingold.

          If you want to know more, please visit http://www.TanjaForSafetyHarbor.com

          Also, I am available for coffee to discuss any issues 🙂

          • Sharon M

            October 11, 2019 at 10:12 pm

            Don’t have coffee with her! She will ambush you!

          • MK

            October 14, 2019 at 5:54 pm

            Actually it’s a direct reflection of how everyone disagrees with your pattern of behaviors. Hypocrite, narcissist, bully and a liar. Not exactly traits fit for leading a city.

          • Saving Safety Harbor

            October 16, 2019 at 1:36 am

            Janet Hooper lost by almost a 30% margin because she let Shelly Schellenberg run her campaign and she got caught sending out letters and emails containing some very bold lies about the condos.

        • Mark

          October 12, 2019 at 10:40 am

          I went and watched that meeting. I would be devastated to have a neighbor like her. Understand she has her beliefs on how her property should look and how she wants it maintained but no one should be so vindictive against a neighbor and an employee of a company. He was only trying do fulfill their contract. Think she may need a few more years and some anger management before trying to become the city dog catcher much less our Mayor.

      • Wilma Black

        October 11, 2019 at 9:41 pm

        So if people comment negatively about her, they all must be in cahoots with the mayor? Maybe she should consider that a grain of what is said about her is true.

        • Tanja Vidovic

          October 11, 2019 at 9:55 pm

          There is truth to some. I am not afraid to speak up for things I believe in.

          I did ask the city arborist about protecting the large tree canopy. I said to him “the residents want an arborist who fights for the trees, we would like it to be you” I said it calmly. He took offense.

          I was kicked out of Phillipe park after questioning what they were spraying all over a huge patch of florida native Salvia, solidago, beauty berry. I dont think we should be spraying poison in the parks.

          At the last election, a woman volunteering at the church where voting was taking place came up to me and a friend and started calling me a baby killing democrat and demanding for us to get off the property, and that we were not welcome. I reported it and the Supervisor of Elections said that they recieved so many similar complaints about harassment at that location that it will no longer be a location to vote.

          So yes, I have core values that I am willing to stand up for.

          • Wilma Black

            October 11, 2019 at 10:01 pm

            You always say you standing up for your beliefs but you don’t listen to others if they disagree with you or your lifestyle. You trash them, humiliate them and that’s just ok by you. Trust me you DONT represent ALL women! In fact you embarrass me as a woman because of your closed mind.

      • Sharon

        October 11, 2019 at 10:12 pm

        Firing ordered by the current mayor, Joseph Ayoub, whom she is challenging in the next election. Strictly a dirty political move.

        • Jack Williams

          October 11, 2019 at 10:35 pm

          Sharon, that’s a lie and you know it. Mayors do not hire or fire. In fact I believe Tanja is so low on the Mayors radar that she represents a pimple on an elephants butt.

          • Sharon

            October 12, 2019 at 12:14 am

            Wrong

        • Jane Franklin

          October 11, 2019 at 10:46 pm

          Hello! She got fired before she announced her candidacy for Mayor. Geez

          • Sharon

            October 12, 2019 at 12:13 am

            She had been talking about running & he knew very well what he was doing.

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 9:10 pm

      In reference to the child. My husband and I received a phone call with cursing saying that my cat was dead and he threw it in the bay and he wanted reward money. We did a reverse look up on the phone number and posted the address that came up asking if anyone knew the person, which was the mothers name. My husband filed a police report. I was able to get the phone number and contact the mother. She and her children were staying with my neighbor. At the same time, I found it was a minor, the post was reported and removed. The mother had the child call me and the child apologized for what he said and I forgave him. I really wish Steve Baryard woud stop posting this, it isnt fair to this kid who made a bad decision.

      • Jane Franklin

        October 11, 2019 at 9:31 pm

        And this is Mayoral material? Keep it up Tanya! Narcissist

        • Carole

          October 12, 2019 at 8:56 am

          That was a response to an out of context negative comment…. and no, it’s not Mayoral content…..which brings the question of why do you haters start with this bull#!%+ every. Single. election. Hope your makin’ your momma’s proud!

      • Tanja Bullies Children

        October 12, 2019 at 7:25 am

        So she gets a phone call and thinks it is completely normal to post a photo of a child, that child’s address, a list of all known relatives of the child and the child’s home phone number?

        Not only should she not be mayor, she should be on a list of people who are dangerous to children.

      • Protect Our Children

        October 14, 2019 at 10:33 am

        Wow. This is how crazy she is.

        She thinks posting the name, address along with a photo of a child, that child’s mom and a lot of all known relatives is a perfectly reasonable response to a phone call.

    • Jessica

      October 11, 2019 at 9:28 pm

      Those allegations are completely out of character for Tanja. I’ve known her for years and she has only been kind and compassionate as far as I’ve seen. She does stuck up for herself and those unable to defend themselves, so I’m sure she is not liked by bullies and misogynists, but thankfully I am neither.

      • Angie Devon

        October 11, 2019 at 9:48 pm

        Then you don’t know the same Tanja that Safety Harbor knows. Her platform on bullying is a joke. She bullies neighbors, our city employees, county employees and her fellow associates she works with. It’s well known and she simply is not a nice person unless you can do something for her.
        PS- don’t ever have coffee with her, it’s an ambush.

      • Jane Franklin

        October 11, 2019 at 9:48 pm

        That is because you have similar beliefs as her. Go to the commission meeting where other neighbors have felt threatened by her. Lawn and pest companies have been threatened and wont work for other residents. And let’s not forget, she was fired by the city!!!!
        Threatening and intimidating behavior does not make for a good employee. The city took action and terminated her. Mayoral?

        And then she proudly posted the termination letter. Narcissist.

  • Vote no to Tanya

    October 11, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    Her entire neighborhood has seen through her lies. One family was harassed so terribly that they had to pull their child out of the school where Tanya’s kids go because she was spreading rumors and lies accusing the family of poisoning her kids with pesticides

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 9:02 pm

      This is a well-used tactic by the current Mayors supporters. Please go to my website to find out more at http://www.TanjaForSafetyHarbor.com

      • Laurie

        October 11, 2019 at 9:39 pm

        If you go to her website and disagree she deleted all comments. If you can’t take the truth heat get out of the kitchen!

      • Wilma Black

        October 11, 2019 at 9:42 pm

        So if people comment negatively about her, they all must be in cahoots with the mayor? Maybe she should consider that a grain of what is said about her is true.

    • Jessica

      October 11, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      Seems like bs, honestly. I’ve known Tanja for years and she has only been a help to our community.

    • Jared

      October 11, 2019 at 11:10 pm

      Not true, I sat at the my pool with this mother while she told me her child didn’t like the new school she was attending (Safety Harbor) and thought she’d have to switch back to her old school. This was before the aerosolized pesticide drifting into our yard filled with fruits and vegetables. Spray your yard fine, but mosquito joes asked us to go inside bc they knew there was drift into our yard. We also continued to invite her daughter to swim. Do you think 4th graders tease each other about their lawn companies spraying pesticide? I call BS. We tried to negotiate another option including using an organic option in the backyard. The neighbor refused and lied to us about what was being sprayed. We offered to pay the difference and mosquito joes said they would upgrade her service for free. They wanted harmful chemicals. They insisted on it. They also put a nice big Trump 2020 sign in their backyard just for us. If you spray harmful things into the environment at least own it and don’t be ashamed.

      • Rick

        October 12, 2019 at 10:28 pm

        Trump 2020🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Mary

    October 11, 2019 at 6:20 pm

    Whatever you do, take screenshots of anything you post to Tanja. If she doesn’t agree with you, she will delete your comments and block you from commenting.

  • The truth shall set you free

    October 11, 2019 at 6:47 pm

    Cant get along with neighbors, harasses city employees, bullies poll workers, cant handle issues in a civil manner….Is really what this city needs?
    Vote No Tanja!

    • Jared

      October 11, 2019 at 11:32 pm

      If you question or disagree with Joe Ayoub’s pro development record you may get A. Fired. B. Endlessly trolled on the internet by some of his Trump supporting allies. Joe Ayoub’s campaign has made our local elections ugly in the past and they will attempt to do so again. We are aware of that and will persist. An election about the direction of the City focused on issues and ideas is what people want.

      • Leanne Parnell

        October 12, 2019 at 4:23 am

        Jared, so you are saying if any Safety Harbor resident and voter is a Trump supporter they are bad people? Do you realize the majority of Safety Harbor’s population are registered Republicans? You’ve just insulted a high percentage of Safety Harbor citizens. Not very smart for a candidate’s husband to say about the people he would like voting for his wife.

  • Skeptical

    October 11, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Unfortunately the “journalist” is friends with Tanja, so most of the comments not in favor of Tanja will be removed.

    I also question the anonymity of our email addresses, as they are probably being shared with Tanja so she knows who to block from her mayor page.

  • Jane Franklin

    October 11, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    This reporter needs to look at the commission video from last month where multiple residents got up and shared stories of being bullied by her. Go on Safety Harbor Connect Face Book page where screen shots are visible of her talking about her coworkers at the Tampa fire station saying horrible things then cries they pick on her. Her neighbors cant use their lawn person or pest control bc she ran the companies off. One family was harassed so bad they had to pull their daughter from her school. And let’s not forget, she was fired by the City of Safety Harbor last month. So now she wants to lead the City? You’ve got to be kidding. The city does not need a bully at the helm.

    • Jessica

      October 11, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      The city was having carcinogenic chemicals sprayed on native plants in a park where our kids play and having old growth shade trees cut down which is destroying the charm of our small town. She fights for a better City, which is exactly what we need now more than ever!

      • Jane Franklin

        October 11, 2019 at 9:40 pm

        Leaders don’t bully. I live organic and hate the toxicity in our environment as well but bullying is just that a bully.

        • Michelle C

          October 11, 2019 at 10:30 pm

          I’ve known Tanja for almost 15 years. I’ve seen her operate in both public and private spaces, as a mother, a neighbor, an employee, an advocate and a friend. Tanja would give a stranger the shirt off her back, the shoes off her feet and the food off her table without hesitation. It seems to me a lot of folks on here are conflating a woman sticking up for herself, the environment, and what she knows to be right with “bullying”. Let me be clear: Tanja Vidovic is no bully. In fact, she’s incapable of it. Her compassion and empathy make it so. She is also no push over. So when she sees moral and ethical wrongs, she calls them out. When she sees the environment getting poisoned and businesses, government entities and politicians making excuses to justify it? She fights back like hell. That’s not bullying. That’s courage and steadfastness in the face of some really ugly and manipulative forces. I want to call out the gaslighting that’s going on here. Tanja is not the bully … she’s the protector. The steward. The advocate. She operates from a place of wanting what’s best for all. What more could you ask for in a leader? Tanja is steady even in the face of adversity. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Regardless of where you fall politically, she’s a candidate everyone can get behind. Because she’ll work to unpoison your parks, your waterways, your home, OUR home. Yes, even the people on here claiming she’s the worst stand to benefit from the work she does. To be a bully, one must seek to hurt. Tanja seeks Only to help. I encourage you to research her history and red her actually words (not anyone else paraphrasing or misquoting her) in full context. Disagreeing with someone is not “seeking to hurt”. Being steadfast in defending what you know is right is not “seeking to hurt”. And standing up for yourself when you’ve been victimized is not “seeking to hurt”. The loose interpretation of this word “bully” is dangerous and does a disservice to all. I’m thankful that great leaders like Tanja Vidovic understand that sometimes social constructs need to be shaken up to advance positive change. And that is exactly what Tanja will do as Mayor. She will put the good of the whole before the benefit of select privileged individuals. And she’ll do it with assuredness and integrity that is not commonly found today.

          • Jack

            October 13, 2019 at 6:45 pm

            Step away from the Kool-Aide. Have you seen the videos of her yelling and harassing county employees and voting poll workers? No way is that how someone should act if they want to represent a city. It’s actually frightening.

        • Sharon

          October 12, 2019 at 12:22 am

          Obviously you don’t attend commission meetings. When a speaker is saying something Ayoub doesn’t like, he interrupts, uses their 3 minutes, and tells them their time is up. On more than one occasion. How’s that for leadership?

          • Stop posting lies

            October 13, 2019 at 8:31 pm

            Sharon, Thats a flat out lie and you know it. Everyone is held at 3 mins. because the meeting will go on for many hours if not. I have only seen him interupt when hes being accused of something that is not true and actually is slander.The mayor actually starts most meetings by telling everyone they only have 3 mins. I actually remember a recent meeting where the mayor allowed Tanya to talk way longer than anyone else was allowed ever. I also remember her husband recently talking past the 3 mins and when the mayor asked him to stop he just kept talking. Stop posting such lies.Its all on camera every week.

        • Sharon

          October 13, 2019 at 11:15 am

          You must be talking about current mayor Ayoub who interrupts residents, mostly women, during their 3 minutes and then tells them their time is up. You are right! We don’t need that bully.

          • Anna

            October 13, 2019 at 6:23 pm

            Playing the woman card Sharon? It doesn’t work and in fact is starting to irritate more women than appease them. That is such a lie but coming from a woman who berates a gentleman arborist for doing his job it doesn’t surprise me. ‘‘Tisk ‘Tisk

      • S. Shittenberg

        October 11, 2019 at 9:57 pm

        The trees cut down were dead or dying. I’m so sick of hearing her wine and cry about the trees. We ALL LOVE trees but if they are diseased or dying they need to be taken out. It’s A safety issue. God forgive a huge limb falls on someone. All her wining is nothing by showboating.

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 9:37 pm

      June 13th 2018 – spoke with pest guys after witnessing his spray synthetic pesticides over the fence into my yard, onto my garden where I grow my food. This pesticide that they used made me so sick I had to lay down on the floor. Long term, it also causes diminished brain function. I called the company and he said they have organic options
      June 13th I texted the neighbor asking for organic, She said she would research I offered to help DE the yard, which is a natural pesticide.
      June 22nd – I texted neighbor again telling her that they are spraying over my fence again, and to please use something natural, and I offered to pay the difference.
      She replied that he was supposed to spray away from the yard. She again said she would research organic. I offered to pay for the organic option. I offered again to help treat her yard myself
      June 27th she texted and said she moved to organic, I said thank you
      The next time they sprayed, Mosquito Joes told us to go inside because they were spraying. I said, I thought it was organic, he said nope. I figured it was a mistake because the neighbor said they moved to organic, so I called the neighbor, and she told me no.
      In August, I post a video of the bees dying in my yard after they were sprayed over my fence, again.
      Sept 18th I posted another video of them spraying up into the air, and over my fence. I started to recieve calls that the neighbors were spreading rumors about me.
      Sept 18th I texted the neighbor and asked to meet to talk about it
      Sept 19th , I asked again so we can resolve any issue.
      Jan 22nd – complaint to mosquito joes after the spraying was making me feel sick every time, and we had to run inside every time they sprayed. It was continued to be aerosolized and sprayed over into our yard on our garden that supplies food to us.
      2/19 Mosquito joes said they offered organic to the client at the same cost and client said no.
      https://westflorida.app.bbb.org/complaint/view/67413949/c/622c47
      for 6 months, broken glass appeared in my backyard.
      Aug 19th She spoke poorly about me at the city commission excluding key facts
      My cat disappeared the same night.
      a week later is when I received the phone call saying my cat was dead and they threw it in the bay.

      Now, can we get back to the issues?

      • Jack Williams.

        October 11, 2019 at 10:08 pm

        Woman! Just quite while your behind.

  • Jane Franklin

    October 11, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    Webster definition of a nar·cis·sist/ˈnärsəsəst
    a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
    “narcissists who think the world revolves around them”.

    I sat through a commission meeting where person after person stood up and shared stories of being bullied by Tanya. I was so uncomfortable sitting in the room with Tanya because if I had been her I could never show my face again. Tanya’s response? Tanya for Mayor!

  • Tanja Vidovic

    October 11, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    This tactic is a form of bullying that the current mayors friends use. They used it against his last 2 opponents. Sorry, your lies and bullying wont work on me. Please look at June 18th 2018 Commission Video on the City of Safety Harbor. Where about a dozen people got up and said how the current mayor and his friends bully and harass

  • Jade LaFay

    October 11, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    Hey! Come on guys, I’m a neighbor of her’s, and she’s quite possibly the main reason I like living here. She really cares! Coming from Tampa, I was pleasantly surprised to meet such a friendly person to call not just a neighbor, but a friend. Even through all the stuff the world throws at her, she maintains her positivity, and wants nothing more than what’s best for the people and the environment. My vote would definitely go to her! 🙂

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 10:00 pm

      Thank you Jade. You and your beautiful family are such a joy in the neighborhood.

    • A fellow coworker

      October 11, 2019 at 10:30 pm

      I’m happy you think that but don’t ever disagree with her because the knife in the back hurts.

  • Dear Lord, what is next?

    October 11, 2019 at 9:59 pm

    I am extremely concerned about this candidate. Yes, please watch the city commission video of how she handled the arborist situation. You can view it at the City of Safety Harbor website. Request copies from the City of Safety Harbor of the emails and documentation concerning this event. It’s all public record. Anyone can make a request. She tells others via Facebook to use protest tactics instead of speaking to appropriate parties about the situation at hand. Not only fired initially from the city of Tampa but most recently was relieved, not at her request of some type of employment with the City of Safety Harbor. She even posted the termination letter on her own Facebook page. She was also involved with the Pinellas sheriff’s office for an altercation of county employees at Phillippe Park. Instead of handling it properly and going to or calling Pinellas County like a normal citizen would do; she took her protests out on county workers who were just doing what they were told to do. She has posted on her Facebook page that her co-worker Tampa firefighter’s try to hit and run over dogs when they are out on fire runs. These are all her own posts. Ask the city of Tampa for a copy of the post which was sent to the Mayor’s office. She has altercations with poll workers during an election. There is a video of that situation. The list goes on and on. I’m sure her co-workers and local neighbors can fill an entire page of their concerns about her and her stability. She has never held any volunteer position on any city boards, etc. and expects to just jump right in the mayor’s seat. We need qualified individuals to run the city of safety harbor. Not individuals who want protests, try to get city workers removed for just doing their jobs and cause altercations everywhere she goes. Over the next few months, the stories will start surfacing on who is the “true Tanya” and I don’t believe it will be pretty based upon the few truthful items that have recently surfaced or been seen by the community. We need a qualified and experienced person to handle the issues for the City of Safety Harbor, not someone who has a history of problems, protests and conflicts.

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 10:06 pm

      Yes, I stand up for animal rights. I stand up for the trees and the environment.

      Please do not be fooled by these comments by the Mayor’s goonies. Go to my website and find real testimonials by real people, not just fake accounts.

      http://www.TanjaForSafetyHarbor.com

      • Anna Garcia

        October 11, 2019 at 10:26 pm

        Calling Safety Harbor citizens goonies?? And you want to be our Mayor?? Only people who agree with you are on your website. Anyone who disagrees is blocked. Thin skin.

  • The Residents of Safety Harbor

    October 11, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Dear Tanja, Small men are threatened by strong women. They clearly have nothing better to do but make up lies. You are an amazing advocate for the residents of Safety Harbor and will make a fantastic mayor! You have our support. The community is with YOU! #HatersGonnaHate

    • Tanja Vidovic

      October 11, 2019 at 10:53 pm

      Thank you!

    • Woman of Safety Harbor

      October 11, 2019 at 11:09 pm

      Trust me, the community is not with her.

  • Sharon

    October 11, 2019 at 10:33 pm

    Lots of fake names here and false info. Typical “smart” GROWTH moves. Give it your best try but this town is fed up with the overbuilding, density, noise, tree destruction, traffic and phony promises to get elected made by your candidate. Say NO to more of joe & his cohorts.

    • Paula

      October 11, 2019 at 11:03 pm

      Are you the same Sharon that ambushed our city arborist with Tanja? That won’t be forgotten. Shameful adults acting like the school yard bully.

      • Sharon

        October 13, 2019 at 11:27 am

        You have no idea what you are talking about. A conversation is not an ambush. Those of us who worked hard to get a tree ordinance, and have the city hire an arborist, over their objection, are not satisfied with the amount of trees still being clear cut. Example: proposed Medical Center on SR590, only 1 tree saved!Evidently proper vetting was not done to get the tree hugging arborist wanted by residents. Yes, I will complain when taxpayer money is being wasted and the job is not being done (possible because city leadership wants it that way).

    • Ray

      October 12, 2019 at 8:50 am

      Sharon, not sure who you’re speaking of that are fed up. I may be a new resident of 2 years but all I hear are positive comments about Safety Harbor. The downtown is finally a place to be and enjoy. That’s probably why we had such a hard time finding a new home. I’m happy here and I’m following city politics for the first time in my life.

  • Dear Lord, what is next?

    October 11, 2019 at 10:36 pm

    Tanya, you indicate that you stand up for animal rights. Is that all you can say?

    Tampa Firefighters, is it true that all of you try to hit and run over dogs on your fire runs? Tanya did not indicate in her reply that she never said that or that none of you do that so it must be true. Tampa firefighters, We want to hear from you. Feel free to post.

    • jane franklin

      October 11, 2019 at 11:01 pm

      Lets not forget she said they eat them and her captain laughed when he hit someone and broke their legs. The screenshot is on the connect. I wish i had a way to attach it here

    • The anti troll

      October 12, 2019 at 12:07 am

      Obsess much?

  • Michelle C

    October 11, 2019 at 10:38 pm

    I’ve known Tanja for almost 15 years. I’ve seen her operate in both public and private spaces, as a mother, a neighbor, an employee, an advocate and a friend. Tanja would give a stranger the shirt off her back, the shoes off her feet and the food off her table without hesitation. It seems to me a lot of folks on here are conflating a woman sticking up for herself, the environment, and what she knows to be right with “bullying”. Let me be clear: Tanja Vidovic is no bully. In fact, she’s incapable of it. Her compassion and empathy make it so. She is also no push over. So when she sees moral and ethical wrongs, she calls them out. When she sees the environment getting poisoned and businesses, government entities and politicians making excuses to justify it? She fights back like hell. That’s not bullying. That’s courage and steadfastness in the face of some really ugly and manipulative forces. I want to call out the gaslighting that’s going on here. Tanja is not the bully … she’s the protector. The steward. The advocate. She operates from a place of wanting what’s best for all. What more could you ask for in a leader? Tanja is steady even in the face of adversity. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Regardless of where you fall politically, she’s a candidate everyone can get behind. Because she’ll work to unpoison your parks, your waterways, your home, OUR home. Yes, even the people on here claiming she’s the worst stand to benefit from the work she does. To be a bully, one must seek to hurt. Tanja seeks Only to help. I encourage you to research her history and read her actual words (not anyone else paraphrasing or misquoting her) in full context. Disagreeing with someone is not “seeking to hurt”. Being steadfast in defending what you know is right is not “seeking to hurt”. And standing up for yourself when you’ve been victimized is not “seeking to hurt”. The loose interpretation of this word “bully” is dangerous and does a disservice to all. I’m thankful that great leaders like Tanja Vidovic understand that sometimes social constructs need to be shaken up to advance positive change. And that is exactly what Tanja will do as Mayor. She will put the good of the whole before the benefit of select privileged individuals. And she’ll do it with assuredness and integrity that is not commonly found today.

    • Fellow Coworker

      October 11, 2019 at 10:49 pm

      You must be related to her because you’re not describing the person we know. I wonder if her boss knows she is working on comments while on duty?

      • Tanja Vidovic

        October 13, 2019 at 4:57 pm

        As a member of Tanja’s political team, all members have access to social media accounts and are able to post as a representative of her campaign. We are authorized to do this on days that she works, and on days that she does not.

        If you have any questions, please feel free to write to Luxa Street Media or write to us on our website http://www.tanjaforsafetyharbor.com

        Thanks for your concerns and questions

    • Former coworker

      October 11, 2019 at 10:57 pm

      Then you don’t know her. And I wonder if her boss is ok with her commenting while on duty?

      • Sharon

        October 13, 2019 at 10:52 am

        Fortunately Tanja has a dedicated group of supporters in her town who stand in for her and answer comments while she is at work.

        • Former Coworker

          October 13, 2019 at 12:26 pm

          You comment for her under her name? Isn’t that sneaky and putting words in her mouth. Now tell me how the voters will know it’s her commenting or her “friends”?

          • Tanja Vidovic

            October 13, 2019 at 4:55 pm

            As a member of Tanja’s political team, all members have access to social media accounts and are able to post as a representative of her campaign. We are authorized to do this on days that she works, and on days that she does not.

            If you have any questions, please feel free to write to Luxa Street Media or write to us on our website http://www.tanjaforsafetyharbor.com

            Thanks for your concerns and questions

  • Jessica

    October 12, 2019 at 12:44 am

    I support Tanja because she supports a land development code that locks living in Safety Harbor behind the high cost of homeownership and single family housing so blacks and other minorities can’t move out of Tampa and into Safety Harbor

  • Barry

    October 12, 2019 at 1:06 am

    Keep Safety Harbor as white as possible! We need to increase setbacks, support single family housing and Tanja Vidovic to keep Safety Harbor as white as possible for as long as possible.

    If you aren’t white and you can afford a home with setbacks then you don’t deserve to be here trash!

    Keep Safety Harbor white! Tanja2020#

    • Sharon

      October 12, 2019 at 12:25 pm

      You gutless people with your phony names and phony attempts at racism (D, wasn’t that your thing?) are pathetic. You have good reason to be scared that your boy Joe can’t fool the same people a 2nd time around. “smart” GROWTH density, tall buildings and a concrete desert are not wanted in our quaint downtown.

      • Jane Doe

        October 12, 2019 at 6:11 pm

        Of course nobody wants to use their real name! Tanja, Shelly, Sharon/Saving Safety Harbor will target them. And will delete and/or block them.

  • Jan

    October 12, 2019 at 9:54 am

    I live in Safety Harbor with my family. Can anyone help me understand why she is dangerous to children? I’m not following.

    • Christine

      October 12, 2019 at 10:33 am

      She posted on her FB page the name, address and phone number of a child to call him out on “what she thought he did”.

  • Kerri

    October 12, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    I look forward to casting my vote for Tanja! She is a friend, environmental activist, equal-rights advocate, tireless volunteer, community builder, and relentless fighter for what is right and just. Tanja stands up, speaks out, and shows up to make sure Safety Harbor is the City our children deserve. Her strength and persistence have lots of folks clutching their pearls, and her strength and persistence will make her an outstanding mayor.

    • Beth

      October 12, 2019 at 10:35 pm

      She’s a nut case. Just ask anyone she has worked with. Seriously she is scary.

    • Jane Franklin

      October 13, 2019 at 9:08 am

      A vote for Moral Turpitude!

    • Evan Smith

      October 21, 2019 at 3:23 pm

      Tonya actually made up an entire list of False claims and lies about her supposed Harassment at Tampa Fire Rescue and didn’t win a discrimination lawsuit, only to get her job back and the award was for lost wages. The Department had been building a case against her for years and the day before they finally pulled the trigger she filed a bogus lawsuit to try and stop them. She was not fired for filling the lawsuit, she was fired for lying, stealing government and public documents without approval to cover up her transgressions among other charges.

      She effectively tarnished the reputation of a God Fearing Christian Captain that has been married for over 40 years with her false claims he was somehow interested in her pachouli and unshaven armpits when she was the one following him around from Station to Station asking him to come to her house and help build decks and fix things. She then ruined his final years before retirement by making him have to defend himself by having to deny these false accusations.

      She thought she would have the support of all the Woman on the Department when in the end not one Woman supported her lies and false accusations. Nobody fears her, they fear being put into her little black book with her version of lies after it.

      She makes claims like a Captain forced her to clean a dumpster with bleach while she was pregnant, when she had purposefully not revealed she was pregnant yet. She claims another Captain scheduled an impromptu training session to purposefully make her do while she needed to pump when it was a Hose testing that was scheduled for a year for the entire crew. She fought for her right to NOT go on light duty while she was pregnant (which is a right that every other woman is happy to use for the safety of their health and child while pregnant and she wanted to fight to get rid of that process which would have endangered every other pregnant firefighter after her).Just because she didn’t want to go on a 9-5 week she wanted to put the life of her unborn fetus in danger and stay on the streets to continue to work Full Duty at a high risk job full of cancer causing fumes and toxic gases and blood borne pathogens. One misstep and falling at a water and smoke filled fire scene while trying to deliver air bottles and her baby would not have been born which would have been a terrible tragedy yet she didn’t care.

      She also claimed sexual harassment at a flower Shop she worked at in Miami. She was chasing a payday. She is toxic. It was the most absurd time in the history of Tampa Fire Rescue. She complained when her Crew members took their dessert into their bunk saying they were trying to exclude her, like the universe revolves around her. She claimed to fight for privacy when in turn she impeded on everyone else’s privacy. She does not belong in politics making any decisions for anyone because She doesn’t even care about the life of her unborn child, the only one she thinks of is herself,

      • Evan Smith

        October 21, 2019 at 6:51 pm

        P.S. – I am not a Firefighter with Tampa Fire Rescue, nor am I an Employee with the City of Tampa, nor do my opinions necessarily represent that of anyone employed by or in relation to the City of Tampa. I am simply a concerned citizen.

        • I love Safety Harbor

          October 24, 2019 at 8:34 pm

          Thank you for speaking out. She is toxic and as a woman she is setting us back years because of her lies and “I speak out because I’m a woman” defense. She doesn’t represent real women. She uses it as a crutch. Karma. Now that is one woman that will catch up with her.

  • Sarah

    October 13, 2019 at 11:34 am

    Luxe Street Media is Tanja Vidovic’s formal social media consulting company. We represent Ms Vidovic in her posting, social performance and engagement. While yes, Ms Vidovic does manage and utilize her own social media accounts, the firm also performs on her behalf. If there are questions regarding the candidates posting times, feel free to reach out.

    • Anna

      October 13, 2019 at 12:35 pm

      She’s commenting on her employers dime. It may be ok and it may not be ok. Not professional but not surprising. I would hope your not posting for her using her name. That seems unethical.

      • Tanja Vidovic

        October 13, 2019 at 4:58 pm

        As a member of Tanja’s political team, all members have access to social media accounts and are able to post as a representative of her campaign. We are authorized to do this on days that she works, and on days that she does not.

        If you have any questions, please feel free to write to Luxa Street Media or write to us on our website http://www.tanjaforsafetyharbor.com

        Thanks for your concerns and questions

        • Open Records

          October 13, 2019 at 5:12 pm

          Is Sarah Fawn Dunlop the official custodian of records? As the sole team member of Tanja’s official campaign page she can be held personally liable for all the suppressed, deleted and hidden content under F.S. 119.

        • Anna

          October 13, 2019 at 5:45 pm

          Is this a Florida company? Sunbiz has no record of a Luxa Street Media. Google had nothing either. Only thing I could find was Media Street Ltd out of Exeter, England.
          Something smells fishy about this.

    • Anna

      October 13, 2019 at 9:11 pm

      Please post a valid email address. Thank you

  • Fact Finder

    October 14, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    http://safetyharbor.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=2153&meta_id=139966&fbclid=IwAR3acO2_mbCAFaaUwo3UlzrbMe9P2-X0gFn_L2rP4PJLpHlRR75zInqlSuM

    This video is public record of a commission meeting held in Safety Harbor, on August 19, 2019. Forty one minutes into the meeting you can begin to hear from actual Safety Harbor residents. First, the mayor addresses a city employee’s concerns about feeling “threatened and ambushed” by Vidovic and two others. Noting a “pattern of behavior” by Vidovic. Next, you will hear from other Safety Harbor residents voicing their concerns, one of which was a neighbor who speaks to the harassment she and her family endured. **FACTS**

Comments are closed.


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